Security box



March 18, 1969 M. E. ROBERTS 3,433,185

SECURITY BOX Filed Aug. 30, 1967 IN VEN TOR.

BY Marvin ERoGer-ts ma .z/w

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,433,185 SECURITY BOX Marvin E. Roberts, Reno, Nev., assignor to B. C. Wills & Company, Lathrup Village, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 664,482

U.S. Cl. 109-55 Int. Cl. Eg 1/04 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention In professional gambling houses, theaters and like places of amusement and/ or entertainment, where large sums of money are received over a relatively short period of time, it is customary to use metal cash boxes to keep most of the money out of sight and for carrying it to a cashier or elsewhere for such accounting and bookwork as may be necessary.

In the better gambling houses, where money is exchanged at the game tables for chips and cards, such metal cash boxes are commonly mounted under the game tables and are made to include a currency slot which registers with a like slot in the top of the table so that money can be deposited in the box through the slots without opening the boxes and disclosing the large sums which are accumulated in them.

Over the years, numerous improvements in the cash boxes and the means of installing them under tables and counter tops have been tried. However, none have proven too successful for one reason or another.

This security box must be a secure depository, in and of itself and it must also have means for mounting it under a table or the like so that it cannot be tampered with or stolen. At the same time, it must be reasonably easy to mount and remove from under a supporting structure by those who are responsible for its safety and must attend to its installation and removal time and again.

As practical, all of these features must be provided within a structure or assembly which is not too expensive to manufacture and install and which will give reasonably long serviceable life without mishap or malfunctioning while in use.

Summary 0] the invention This invention relates to security boxes in general and more particularly to those which may be mounted under tables, counter tops and the like and make use of registering currency slots therethrough.

The security box of this invention derives its support from a supporting shell structure which is mounted in the underside of a table or such and is adapted to leave the whole box, except for its front face, enclosed therein. This affords full support for the security box when it is being mounted under a table, or being removed from thereunder, and enables the upper wall to be used as a closure member and to provide much more convenient access to the security box when it is removed from its 3,433,185 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 supporting structure than is obtained through a side or end wall, as is normally done.

The box is completely enclosed in the shell as regards five of its six sides, and including the top opening closure, so that it cannot be opened while in the shell. Moreover, the locking mechanism for the cover member is provided near the back end of the box deep within the supporting shell where it is completely inaccessible until the bOX is removed.

The box itself is made so that the edges of the cover member overlap an inset flange on the side walls of the box and even further precludes opportunity for picking or forcing the cover locking mechanism.

The means for locking the security box to the supporting structure is provided within the protection of the box itself and accordingly within the double protection of the shell walls therearound. It includes an interlock between the back walls of the box and shell which serves as a locking joint connection that is completely inaccessible from the front of the box or between the side walls of the two structures.

The manner in which the back walls of box and shell are locked together, by a joint connection, enables more reasonable clearance to be provided between the box and shell, for easier fitting of the box in the shell, without concern about someone being able to pry the two apart.

The cover member for the box includes a slide which closes the currency slot the moment that the box is released from the shell and prevents access through the slot until after the cover is opened and the slide mechanism is reset. Moreover, means are provided for keeping the slot covered until the box is properly disposed and locked in the shell and thereby serves as a double check against failure to properly engage the retaining interlock between the two.

All of the operative mechanism that needs to be checked, or ever requires service, is readily accessible through the open cover member and can even be replaced should any severe damage occur.

These and other advantages in the practice of this invention will be more apparent upon a reading of the detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings and which follows hereinafter.

Description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a security box and the supporting structure made in accord with the teachings of this invention and shown as received under a table top that is depicted in phantom outline.

FIGURE 2 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the box and shell, taken in a plane parallel to the top walls thereof and therebelow.

FIGURE 3 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken transversely through the back walls of the box and shell to show the interlocking connection provided therebetween.

FIGURE 4 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken in a plane extending transversely through the front wall of the box and showing the key lock mechanism for actuating the interlock connection.

FIGURE 5 is a partial view, from inside the front of the security box, showing the interlock actuating mechanism.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the cover member of the box; shown on a fragmentary section of the box and open to show the operative mechanism provided on the inner face thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary section of the open cover member shown in the last drawing figure with the operative mechanism shown in a different operative position.

The security box installation 10 of this invention is shown in the first drawing figure as mounted under a table or supporting member 12, depicted in phantom outline. It includes a housing member 14 and a closed container 16 which serves as a cash box and is received whol y within the housing structure.

The housing 14 includes top and bottom walls 18 and 20, enclosing side walls 22 and 24, a full back wall 26, and an open front 28. It is made of a reasonably heavy gauge sheet metal, to provide as few seams as possible, and has what seams there are welded to provide a sturdy, strong, and essentially impregnable shell that is mounted by screw, bolt or other fastening means 30 to the under side of the supporting structure with its open face disposed near the side edge of the supporting member and readily accessible for receiving the cash box container 16 therewithin.

The cash box member 16 is a closed container which includes a bottom wall 32, front wall 34, back wall 36 and side walls 38 and 40, of sheet metal and with welded seams, and is provided with a top opening that is closed by a cover wall member 42.

The cover Wall member 42 is hinged to one of the side walls of the box by a piano hinge connection 44 which has its flanges welded to the inside surfaces of both the cover and side wall members. The cover is also formed with bounding side flanges 46 that are disposed in the plane of the side wall members, when the cover is closed, and overlap in-set flanges 48 of bar stock that are secured to the upper edges of the front, back and other side wall and extends thereover to the height of the cover wall (as best shown in FIGURE 6). This enables the side flanges of the cover member to be received in the plane of the container side Walls and provides an overlapping construction between the edges of the box and the overlapping cover flanges which makes it impossible to obtain any leverage in trying to pry the cover member apart from the box itself.

One or more key cylinder locks 50 are mounted on the cover member near the back corner of the box and include the usual key actuated earns 52 disposed for cooperation with the lower edge of the inset bar stock member, as a striker plate, in locking the cover member to the box structure.

As will be appreciated, the cash box member 16 is of a size which is readily received in the housing shell and such as is wholly enclosed thereby with only its front face exposed.

A currency slot 54 is provided in the cover structure 42, which is aligned with the like slot 56 in the top wall of the housing member 14 and a similar one 58, provided through the top of a table or other supporting member 12.

The closed container 16 is retained in the housing shell 14 by a latching mechanism 60 which is provided within the box itself, and includes a lever arm member 62 that extends along one side wall, of the box, from the front to the back, and is pivotally engaged thereto as at 64, near one end and close to the front wall, and has the extreme end near the back wall turned at a right angle to provide a pawl or latching bar 66 that is engaged with a catch member 68 provided on the back Wall 26 of the housing shell and extending through an opening 70 in the back wall 36 of the box. The lever arm member 62 extends through an opening 72 provided in a corner wall member 74, and is biased by a spring 76 which holds it down and in position for cooperative engagement with the catch. The catch member 68 itself has a cam striker end 78 so that the pawl rides over it and locks behind the catch shoulder thereof.

The corner wall 74 provides protection and structural strength for the corner of the box to always assure alignment of the interlocking parts and to prevent currency from getting into the corner.

The shorter end of the lever member 62 is bent out from the side of the box as at 80 for cooperation with the key actuated cam member 82 of a cylinder lock 84 provided in the front face of the cash box 16. When the key-actuated cam is turned in a downward direction to depress the short end of the lever arm 62, the latching pawl 66 at the other end is raised out of engagement with the catch member 68 to release the cash box from the housing shell.

A double lever locking arrangement is shown in FIG URE 5 wherein two key cylinder locks 84' and 84" are provided in the front face of the box 16 with the first including a double cam lever 82 having one end disposed to actuate the lever arm member and the other end for engagement with a single cam 82" on the second cylinder lock. In the positions shown, the first lock 84 cannot actuate the lever arm member 62 until the cam 82" of the second lock is lifted out of engagement with the double cam on the first lock member. Accordingly, double key safety is provided.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the closed cash box container 16 is retained within the housing shell 14 by an interlocking connection 60 between the back walls of the two members which allows for relative movement between the box and the shell without breaking the interconnection and thereby serves as a pivotaltype interlock which allows reasonable clearance between the side walls of the box and shell so that this type of drawer arrangement can be used. However, the interlock at the back is inaccessible from the front face of the cash box, except in the manner provided, and the box cannot be sprung from the shell by any means inserted between the side walls, top or bottom, in any possible manner.

To safeguard the contents of the box 16 when it is removed from the housing shell 14, a slide mechanism is provided on the underside of the cover wall 42, as best shown in FIGURE 6, for closing the currency slot 54 in the box.

A slide member 92 is provided in guide channels 94 and 96, welded on the underside of the cover, and has a currency slot 98 which is adapted to be aligned with the slot 54 in the cover wall to provide access into the box, or to be misaligned relative thereto, for closing the cover wall slot. The slide is formed to include a tab 100 near its back end which is engaged by a spring 102 engaged to a like tab 104 provided on the cover wall so that the slide is biased in a slot closing position. To open the slide, a flange 106 is provided at the back end of the slide which is adapted for engagement by an actuating pin 108 mounted on the back wall of the housing shell, as best seen in FIGURE 3, and adapted to extend through suitable openings 110 in the cover wall flange 46, etc., to move the slide to the open position when the closed container is properly disposed within the housing shell.

It also includes a tripping mechanism 112 by means of which the slide member 92 is locked in a closed position or is suitably held so that it may be opened by the actuating pin 108 in the manner mentioned. This includes a latch member 114 pivotally mounted on the slide and having one end 116 biased by a spring and tab arrangement 118 and 120 for shoulder-notch engagement, as at 122 with the slide channel 96 and the other end 124 formed for engagement within another clevis notch 126 in the same guide channel.

When the cover member 42 is opened, the latch member 114 is set for engagement within the clevis notch 126 and to hold the slide member 92 against the bias of the return spring 102 and so that its currency slot 98 is closer to the slot 54 provided in the cover member; but is not aligned therewith. As so disposed, when the currency box 16 is placed in the housing shell 14, the actuating pin 108 upon engagement with the flange 106 on the slide 92, will move the slide forward causing the latch member 114 to be released and to assume the dotted like position shown in FIGURE 7. Since this is beyond the shoulder notch 122, the slide 92 can be moved forward to align the two currency slots. However, when the box is being removed from the housing shell, and the actuating pin 108 is relatively withdrawn, the slide 92 will be retracted under the influence of the return spring 102 and the latching member 114 will fall into the shoulder notch 122 to prevent moving the slide forward again until the cover is opened and the trigger mechanism is re-set.

Not only is the actuating pin 108 ineffective until the latch bar 114 is reset but the pin serves to hold the 'box out from the back wall of the shell and prevent the box from being latched back in the shell after it is first removed. Accordingly, a double safety is provided to assure not only that the box has been serviced before it is placed in the shell, but that it is not removed from the shell, even by those authorized, without being inspected by the cashier and having the trigger mechanism re-set.

In practice, the cash box container 16 is inspected to be sure there is no money in the box and that the operative mechanisms are all functioning properly. Then the trigger mechanism 112 is set to hold the slide member 92 in an open-ready position.

After the cover member 42 is closed, and locked by the two key cylinder lock members 50, it is carried to where the housing shell 14 is mounted and is positioned for being slid into the shell just as a drawer would be.

As the back wall of the closed container 16 approaches the back Wall of the housing shell 14, the catch 68 of the latch mechanism and the actuating pin 108 for the slide are received through the openings provided for engagement with the latching pawl 66 and slide member flange 106, respectively. The latching pawl 66 of the operative lever arm 62 is moved upwardly over the cam striker surface of the catch 68 and behind the latching shoulder thereof. The actuating pin 108 engages the slide flange 106 and moves the slide member, tripping the latch lever 114 and until the currency slot 98 is properly disposed.

If anything is left or placed in the back of the housing shell, such as would keep the latching members from being engaged, the slide actuating pin 108 cannot move the slide enough to open the currency slot 54, Moreover, if the actuating pin touches and moves the slide member it will trip the slide latching mechanism 112, and require that the box be returned to the cashier and the incident reported; since the cover member must be opened and the tripping mechanism re-set before the slide can be properly actuated to the currency slot opening position.

The currency box is removed from the housing shell by those authorized to do so, after it has been in service for a specified time, by actuating the key cylinder lock or locks to depress the short end of the operative lever arm member 62, and raise the latching pawl 66 from engagement with the catch 68. As the box is removed from the housing shell, the slide actuating pin 108 is relatively retracted, the slide member 92 is biased to close the currency slot and the latching member 114 falls in the slide locking notch 122.

As removed from the housing shell, the cash box has the two openings in its back wall, for the catch 68 and pin 108, disposed behind the slide member flange 106 and corner wall 74, respectively, and the currency slot is closed. The construction of the box around the cover wall precludes any means of obtaining leverage and springing the cover within the relatively short time interval that is usually provided for the pick-up and return delivery of the currency box to the cashiers. Accordingly, from the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a security box installation may be provided by the means disclosed which will safeguard currency or the like that is deposited therein and will provide a safe and secure means of carrying the currency from where it is collected to a cashier for accounting and whatever else is required.

While certain variations and improvements have been suggested in the course of discussing the preferred embodiment illustrated by the drawings, it will be appreciated that other improvements and modifications are foreseeable, and within the spirit and scope of the invention set forth. Accordingly, the full scope of the invention should be interpreted only within the language of the hereinafter appended claims and is not to be limited to the specific structure which is shown by the drawings and has been described.

I claim:

. 1. A security box for currency and the like, comprismg:

a housing structure for attachment to the underside of a supporting member and including an open front, a closed back, and enclosing side and bottom walls,

a closed container sized to fit within said housing structure and to be received therein through the open front thereof,

and cooperative means provided between said housing structure and said closed container and through the back wall thereof, for interlocking the back walls of said housing structure and container in retained engagement and permitting relative movement therebetween without disengagement thereof.

2. The security box of claim 1,

said cooperative means including a latch mechanism having an operative member extending to the front of said closed container and operable for releasing said latch mechanism thereat.

3. The security box of claim 2,

said closed container having an opening provided in the back wall thereof,

said latching mechanism including a catch member secured to the back wall of said housing structure and disposed to extend through the back wall opening in said closed container,

and said operative member including a latching pawl for engagement with said catch member retaining said housing structure and container together.

4. The security box of claim 3,

said catch member having a cam surface on the leading end thereof and said operative member including means for biasing it and the latching pawl thereof for overriding engagement therewith and locking engagement therebehind.

5. The security box of claim 3,

said operative member including a lever pivotally engaged to a side wall of said container near the front wall thereof and having a short end extending beyond the pivotal connection thereof,

and a key operated cylinder lock in the front face of said container and including a cam lug disposed for operating engagement with said short lower end.

6. The security box of claim 1,

said closed container having a slot provided within the top wall thereof for receiving currency and the like therethrough,

means for closing said slot provided within said coutainer,

and means provided on the back wall of said housing structure and disposed for engagement with said slot closing means for holding said closing means open when said container is retained in said housing structure.

'7. The security box of claim 6,

said slot closing means including a slide member attached to the underside of the top wall of saidclosed container and biased towards the back wall of said container,

and said open holding means including a pin projecting through the back of said container for engagement and reactive movement of said slide member upon engagement therebetween.

8. The security box of claim 7, including a tripping mechanism provided on said slide and including a member biased to hold said slide member in an open-ready position prior to receipt of said container in said housing structure and operatively disposed following slot opening movement of said slide for subsequently preventing forcible movement of said slide to slot opening position following the 7 a removal of said container from said housing stri1o-' References Cited E5;- b f 1 8 i UNITED STATES PATENTS esecurly oxo Calm i Y said container having the top wall thereof providing f i ii atop opening c ver mem r for p n, a e to said 5 11/1950 12 2 58 109:57

container, the interlocking means therewithin, and I the S101; closing means provided thereon. REINALDO P; M ACHADO, Primary Examiner 

